Mercedes aren’t relaxed about their current situation despite a dominant start to the season which sees them lead both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ championships at the half way point.
That’s because, according to motorsport boss Toto Wolff, races like that in Hungary demonstrate that they don’t have one hand on the title just yet.
The Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg started first and second, but come the checkered flag they were just sixth and eighth respectively, allowing Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to close the gap at the front to just 42 points.
The German isn’t ruling out a title challenge just yet and Wolff warned that Ferrari can’t be written off.
“Whoever makes as many mistakes as we did in Budapest does not deserve to be on the podium,” he told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspaper.
“But we do not need to put our head in the sand. Our drivers are still in positions one and two and we have a solid lead in the Constructors’ Championship as well,” he added.
“That [gap however] is not even two race wins,” said the Austrian, “so we are far from being able to relax and drive casually to the end of the season.
“You can never write off Ferrari.”
Meanwhile Wolff defended Hamilton’s various mistakes, suggesting the champion had an off day after a brilliant performance during qualifying.
You have to remember that there are people sitting in these cars.
“Just 24 hours earlier, the same Lewis did an outstanding qualifying and everyone said so, so please do not assume now that he has some sort of problem.”
